n of her cubicle was drawn back, and three lively
faces made their appearance.

"Look here! Don't you know it's time to get up?" said Maisie Talbot,
administering a vigorous poke that would have roused the Seven Sleepers
of legendary lore, and caused even Honor to yawn.

"You'll be fined a penny if you're late for breakfast," added Lettice,
"and that's a very unsatisfactory way of disposing of one's
pocket-money."

"And makes Miss Maitland particularly irate," said Pauline Reynolds.

"Honor Fitzgerald! do you intend to get up, or do you not? Because if
you don't, we shall have to try 'cold pig'!" Then, as there were no
signs of movement, Lettice carried out her threat by dabbing a wet
sponge full in Honor's face, while at the same moment Maisie wrenched
back the bed-clothes with a relentless hand.

"We're doing you a real kindness, so you needn't be cross, Miss Paddy
Pepper-box!" said Lettice. "Just wait till you've seen Miss Maitland
scowl at a late-comer, and you'll give us a vote of thanks."

"I'm not cross," said Honor, laughing in spite of the violation of her
slumbers. Lettice spoke so merrily, it was impossible to take offence,
even at the nickname. "But I think you use rather summary measures. The
sponge was horribly cold and nasty."

"It's the only way to get people to bestir themselves," said Lettice
complacently. "I've had experience with sleepy room-mates before."

"We always try the water cure at St. Chad's," added Maisie. "We've
given you quite mild treatment, as it was a first case; we might have
used your bedroom jug, instead of a sponge."

Owing to her companions' efforts, Honor was in time for breakfast--a
fortunate circumstance for her, as, after the episode at the tea-table
on the preceding evening, her house-mistress would not have been ready
to overlook any deficiency in punctuality.

There was always a short recess between breakfast and chapel, which the
girls called a "breathing space", and during which they could revise
exercises, sharpen lead pencils, and take a last peep at lessons. This
morning everybody seemed to be assembling in the dressing-room for this
brief interval, and there Honor repaired with the others.

"I hear you've been put in the Lower Third, Paddy," said Lettice
Talbot. "Vivian Holmes told me so just now. It's my form. Maisie and
Pauline are in it too."

"Isn't Maisie above you?" asked Honor, looking at the sisters, the
elder of whom overtopped the younger by ne